murderous

adjective

ˈmər-d(ə-)rəs How to pronounce murderous (audio)
Definition of murderousnext
1
as in oppressive
difficult to endure the murderous heat of the desert

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2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort those exams were murderous

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3
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death braved murderous machine-gun fire to capture the hill from the enemy

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4
as in murdering
eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing Viking warriors became legendary for the murderous fury they displayed in battle

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of murderous Through the help of new and old audio tapes and Manson family members, Berlinger argues that the murderous rampage began with a botched drug deal by a man named Bobby Beausoleil. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 Her laments are now laced with fury, as genocidal wars and murderous technologies join global warming in the twenty-first century’s third decade. — Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026 The singer plays a murderous aspiring actress in her new music video—with blood red hair. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 31 July 2026 Remember when there was a wave of filmmakers all trying to make murderous Steamboat Willie horror movies because the character had entered the public domain? — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for murderous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murderous
  1. oppressive
  2. difficult
  3. lethal
  4. bloody
  5. harsh
  6. challenging
  7. deadly
  8. brutal
Adjective
  • Among those waiting to meet the president was Leon Czolgosz, a 28-year-old anarchist who considered the government oppressive.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • People seem to be craving the scent of something cooling and quenching, an olfactive promise that less oppressive weather lies ahead.
    — April Long, Allure, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of oppressive
Adjective
  • The losses linked to the demise of these groups are difficult to quantify, but participants and advocates say the impacts will reverberate across federal agencies for years.
    — Katia Riddle, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Ground surveys can provide more detailed information at a particular site, but covering an entire subway corridor that way would be difficult.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Dozens of companies have withdrawn over the past decades due to poor profits, an uncertain business outlook and concerns about harm to their reputations from making arms, especially lethal weapons.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Airwars is the first to map the damage radius of the strikes in Lamerd and estimate the lethal range of the weapon used.
    — Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of lethal
Adjective
  • Khomeini’s decision turned it into a six-year war of attrition that killed hundreds of thousands, one of the bloodiest conflicts in the region’s modern history.
    — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
  • In early 2026, satellite images revealed Akinci drones deployed in southern Egypt for executing strikes against the Rapid Support Forces fighting in the bloody civil war in neighboring Sudan.
    — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of bloody
Adjective
  • Scott London Every year, Black Rock City appears on a dry lakebed in one of Nevada’s harshest areas, then disappears just as fast.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Hig has bunkered down with a grouchy companion, Bangley (Josh Brolin), who thrives in this harsh world.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • For the healthcare providers in attendance, the party — which featured games and activities for the kids — is a chance to see the real-life impact of their often emotionally challenging work.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Because of the challenging terrain, the bridges are designed to be constructed without heavy machinery.
    — Fatma Tanis, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of challenging
Adjective
  • The death toll from a Russian strike on a warehouse west of Kyiv, the war's deadliest attack so far this year, rose to 38 with four people still missing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media Sunday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine launched deadly strikes in recent months on the facilities of Russia’s biggest online retailer, Wildberries, saying the company sells dual-use goods that have aided the Kremlin’s war effort.
    — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of deadly
Adjective
  • Within a span of four months in Fort Worth last year, Watkins and Snellings were killed in similarly brutal attacks in the Near Southside and Historic Southside sections of the city.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Even so, when investor confidence broke in 1997, the adjustment was swift and brutal.
    — MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of brutal

Browse Nearby Words

murdering
murderous
murderousness
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Cite this Entry

“Murderous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murderous. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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